OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (Ginaton) on bcl-2 and bcl-xL mRNA expression in the myocardium of patients underwent hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

METHODSThirty congenital heart disease patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the control group and the treated group. Patients in both groups received St. Thomas' cardioplegic solution via radix aortae, while Ginaton (0.5 mg/kg) was added in the treated group. Cardiac surgery was started after complete heart arrest. Myocardium was taken before the aorta ascendens was unblocked and mRNA expression of bcl-2 and bcl-xL in the ventricular tissue was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe gene expressions of bcl-2 and bcl-xL were significantly higher in the treated group than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGinaton could promote the mRNA expressions of the antiapoptotic gene bcl-2 and bcl-xL in myocardium of patients underwent CI'PB.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; methods ; Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; genetics ; surgery ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Male ; Myocardium ; cytology ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; bcl-X Protein ; genetics

Mast cell(MC) takes an important role in trauma and the process of wound healing, and the pathophysiology reaction has a relationship to the time since trauma, which is helpful to determine the post-trauma and postmortem interval, and to distinguish the wound shaped whether before or after death. In this paper, the role of MC and its chemic medium in the process of wound healing, scar shaping, postburns inflammatory response, healing of bone fracture, as well as the signification for forensic medicine and the progress of researching in this field were reviewed.
Burns/physiopathology* ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Fractures, Bone/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Inflammation/physiopathology* ; Keloid/physiopathology* ; Mast Cells/physiology* ; Wound Healing/physiology* ; Wounds and Injuries/physiopathology*

OBJECTIVE: To screen the differential expression of apoptosis-related protein and stress response protein(APR-SRP) genes after human brain injury by cDNA microrarray. METHODS: The total RNAs were isolated from normal and injured brain tissues of a car-accident victim, and were purified to obtain mRNAs by Oligotex. Both mRNAs from the tissues of the injured and the normal tissue were reversely transcribed to cDNAs with the incorporation of fluorescent dUTP to prepare the hybridization probes. The probes from normal tissue was labeled with Cy3-dUTP, that from the injured tissue with Cy5-dUTP. The mixed probes were hybridized to the BioDoor Chip ARP-SRP-1.0S, a cDNA microarray which contains 77 apoptosis related protein genes and 23 stress protein related genes. After high-stringent washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for the fluorescent signals and showed differences between two tissues. RESULTS: Among the 100 target genes, Only CLN2 gene (Homo sapiens lysosomal pepstatin insensitive protease gene) showed distinct deference in expression level between the brain injury and normal tissues. CONCLUSION cDNA microarray analysis indicated that CLN2 gene, which is correlated to a fatal childhood neurodegenerative disease, might be related to the brain injury. The expression level of CLN2 gene was significantly decreased in brain injured tissue in comparison to normal tissue. Further analysis of this gene will be helpful to understand the molecular mechanism of brain injury and utilization in forensic medicine.
Apoptosis ; Brain/metabolism* ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Gene Expression/genetics* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis/methods* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Tripeptidyl-Peptidase 1

Autopsy ; Eye Injuries ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans

OBJECTIVEWith the development of endoscopic therapy in children, endoscopic electrocoagulation polypectomy had gradually replaced surgery and became an important method to resect gastrointestinal polyps in children. Simple electrocoagulation polypectomy could often bring some complications of gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation because of incomplete electrocoagulation or mechanical incision, especially in gastrointestinal thick-pedunculated polyps which always have thick nutrient blood vessel. Hemoclips can successfully interdict arteriovenous blood because it can clamp tissue firmly without causing necrosis around the target area. Based on its good mechanical hemostasis, hemoclips are not only widely used in treating bleeding like from ulcer, tumor and variceal ligation but also used in removal of thick-pedunculated gastrointestinal polyps in adults. This paper describes the application of endoscopic electrocoagulation with metal hemoclips to remove thick-pedunculated intestinal polpys in children for the first time, sums up the experience and evaluates its efficacy and safety.

METHODSBetween October, 2001 and December, 2002, 5 cases with thick-pedunculated intestinal polpys were presented. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 5 years. The clinical features were gastrointestinal bleeding or abdominal pain. The longest course of disease was 2 years. Enough preparations for alimentary tract were necessary for polypectomy. The procedures were performed under general anesthesia in order to avoid the risk of bleeding aspiration. Endoscopy was performed in the standard fashion. The apparatus included electronic colonic endoscope (XQ 200, Fuji Corp, Tokyo, Japan), snare (XQ200, Fuji Corp, Tokyo, Japan), impeller of the clip (HX-5QR-1) and hemoclip (MD850) which could be passed through the biopsy channel of endoscope. The clip was completely covered with a hood avoiding any injury to the mucous membrane. The pedicel with diameter of more than 1.0 cm underwent endoscopic electrocoagulation polypectomy with hemoclips. The clip contacted polyps in upright direction. One or more hemoclips were selected to clamp the proximal basement of the pedicel in terms of the pedicel diameter. Turning of the red colour of polyps to purple suggested that hemoclip interdicted arteriovenous blood effectively. The clip was then shut off and electrocoagulation polypectomy was followed. Six polyps were observed and removed.

RESULTSSix polyps including 2 transverse colon polyps and 4 descending colon polyps were resected. Pathological results showed that 3 were juvenile polyps and the other 3 adenomatous polyps. All the polyps were completely resected. The diameter of pedicel were 1.2 - 2.2 cm. The head and pedicel of the biggest polyp was about 5 cm x 5 cm and 2.2 cm, respectively, and five clips were used in order to remove it. No complications of bleeding and perforation were observed in these children. All hemoclips were expelled from intestines within one week. The symptoms of these patients disappeared.

CONCLUSIONMechanical hemostasis with hemoclips successfully interdicted arteriovenous blood of thick-pedunculated polyps. Hemoclips can successfully prevent the complications of bleeding and perforation. The clipping brings about a new method in endoscopic therapy. Endoscopic electrocoagulation polypectomy with hemoclips is a simple, safe and effective method to treat thick-pedunculated gastrointestinal polyps in children and it is a valuable tool in polypectomy for children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Intestinal Polyps ; surgery ; Surgical Instruments ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of surface treating methods on the shear strength of Panavia F luting cements to Cercon zirconia.

METHODSForty sample disc of Cercon zirconia with 20 mm in diameter and 4 mm in height were prepared. Another 40 sample discs with 5 mm in diameter and 4 mm in height were also prepared Both of the two types of samples were randomly devided into four groups A, B, C, and D in which different surface treatments were delivered. In group A samples was treated with 600# sand paper, and in group Bwith sand blasting, and silanization in group C, and sand blasting plus silanization in group D. All samples were bonded with Panavia F luting cement under the aid of glass mould. The value of shear strength was measured and statistically analysed.

RESULTSThe shear strength of four groups of samples were (21.50 ± 1.98), (23.68 ± 2.31), (20.69 ± 1.55), (24.01 ± 2.19) MPa respectively. The population mean was not equal. There was no significant difference between 600# sand paper treated group and silanization group, nor between sand blasting group and sand blasting plus silanization group.

CONCLUSIONSSand blasting is a effective means to increase the shear strength, and 600# sand paper treatment and silanization can't increase the shear strength.

Dental Bonding ; Dental Cements ; chemistry ; Dental Porcelain ; chemistry ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Materials Testing ; Resin Cements ; chemistry ; Shear Strength ; Surface Properties ; Zirconium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the interaction between p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB/IkappaB system on the proinflammatory cytokines release after burn trauma.

METHODSHuman monocyte line THP-1 were incubated with serum from eight healthy controls, burn sera, burn sera pretreatment with SB203580, and burn sera pretreatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). After 24 hours incubation with serum, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) levels in THP-1 culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. The activities of p38 MAPK and expressions of IkappaBalpha in THP-1 were measured by Western blot analysis. The EMSA method was used to characterize the binding activities of NF-kappaB and activating protein (AP)-1 in THP-1.

RESULTSIn comparison with normal controls, burn sera resulted in a significant higher level release of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in THP-1 [(7.30 +/- 0.84) ng/ml vs (2.20 +/- 0.28) ng/ml, P < 0.05; (2.88 +/- 0.38) ng/ml vs (0.81 +/- 0.14) ng/ml, P < 0.05], which were significantly inhibited by pretreatment with SB203580 or PDTC. Burn sera showed increased activities of p38 MAPK and AP-1 in THP-1 (4728 +/- 582 vs 1291 +/- 163, P < 0.05; 946 +/- 137 vs 361 +/- 40, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with SB203580 but not PDTC. The expression of IkappaBalpha in THP-1 incubated with burn sera was significantly decreased than those incubated with control sera (1211 +/- 115 vs 2658 +/- 318, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with PDTC but not SB203580. Burn sera also leaded to an increased activity of NF-kappaB in THP-1 (1636 +/- 170 vs 317 +/- 32, P < 0.05), which were abolished by pretreatment with PDTC but not SB203580.

CONCLUSIONSThere are no direct interaction between p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway and NF-kappaB/IkappaB pathway. These two pathways, which regulate the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in monocyte following burn trauma, are parallel and independent.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; physiology ; Immune Sera ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; physiology ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To study changes of DNA content in the kidney cellule of rats and relationship with the postmortem interval. METHODS: This experiment chose seven parameter of cell nuclear, including the area and integral optical density, determined the changes of DNA content in the kidney cellule of 15 rats at different intervals between 0 and 48 h postmortem with auto-TV-image system. RESULTS: The degradation rate of DNA in nuclear has a certainty relationship to early PMI(in 48 h) of rat, and get binomial regress equation. CONCLUSION Determining the quantity of DNA in nuclear should be an objective and exact way to estimate the PMI.
Animals ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism* ; DNA/metabolism* ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Kidney/cytology* ; Male ; Postmortem Changes ; Rats ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of burn serum on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) andits signal transduction mechanism.

METHODSHUVECs cultured in vitro were employed for the experiment, and were divided into normal control (NC, with addition of normal serum), burn serum (BS, with addition of burn serum), SB203580 (with addition of 10 micromol/L SB203580 treatment 1 hour before burn serum treatment) and PDTC [with 10 mmol/L pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) 1 hour before burn serum treatment] groups. Protein and mRNA expression of VCAM-1 in HUVECs was measured by flow cytometry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours after burn serum treatment. The expression of VCAM-1 on HUVEC surface and the soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) content in HUVECs culture supernatants were measured by ELISA at 24 hours after the serum stimulation. Adherence of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC) adherence to HUVECs was also observed in vitro.

RESULTSThe expression of VCAM-1 mRNA increased obviously in BS group after the burn serum stimulation and reached peak level at 24 post stimulation hour (PSH), and it decreased thereafter. The above expression was significantly decreased in SB203580 and PDTC groups at 24 PSH, but there was no difference compared with normal control (P > 0.05). The VCAM-1 expression on the membrane of HUVEC was evidently higher in BS group (66.5 +/- 6.2) than that in NC group (19.1 +/- 1.9, P < 0.05) at 24 PSH, but it was decreased significantly in SB203580 (21.7 +/- 2.3) and PDTC (23.1 +/- 2.4) groups and there was no significant difference compared with NC group (P > 0.05), and which was evidently lower than that in BS group (P < 0.05). The VCAM-1 content in the supernatant of BS group (125 +/- 10 ng/L) was obviously higher than that in NC (23 +/- 3 ng/L), SB203580 (27 +/- 5 ng/L) and PDTC (29 +/- 5 ng/L) groups. (P < 0.05). The number of PBMCs adherent to HUVECs in BS group [(197 +/- 11)%] was much larger than that in NC group [(100 +/- 4)%], SB203580 group [(113 +/- 7)%] or PDTC group [(97 +/- 112)%] at 24 PSH (P < 0.05), but no difference between NC group and SB203580, PDTC groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBurn serum can enhance the expression of VCAM-1 in HUVECs through p38 MAPK signaling pathway, and the activation of NF-kappaB was also involved in this process.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Pyridines ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Serum ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate The modulating role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in hepatic cells and its role in hepatic injury in severely burned rats.

METHODSTwenty-four adult healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (8 rats in each group): sham group, burn group, and burn with SB203580 group. A rat model of full-thickness burn injury covering 30% total body surface area (TBSA) was reproduced. The specific inhibitor of p38MAPK (SB203580 in 10 mg/kg) was given to the rats in the burn with SB203580 group at 15 minutes and 12 hours after burn. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured at 24 postburn hours (PBHs). The TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the liver was determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and the expression levels of p38MAPK and phosphor-p38MAPK in the liver were determined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSThe serum levels of AST and ALT, and the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in liver cells were significantly higher in burn group than those in sham and SB203580 groups (P < 0.05 or 0.01), but there was no difference between the two latter groups. It was indicated by Western blot results that there was no difference of p38MAPK expression in rat liver among the three groups (P > 0.05). The phospho-p38MAPK expression ratio among sham, burn and burn with SB203580 groups was 1.00:3.90:1.10. The phospho-p38MAPK expression was significantly lower in burn with SB203580 group than that in burn group (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference compared with that in sham group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe postburn activated p38MAPK in rat liver after severe burn injury enhances the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and participates in the development of postburn hepatic injury.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism